The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-16
woRKINeMEN AND EMPLOYERS.

They Have a Common Enemy In the Walk
ing Deiegate-DisreputableC Competition.
Work and Wages for August.
Workingmen not the only ones who
earnestly asking what can be done to improve the
condition of the men and women who work long
days for just wages enough TO sustain life. A
maj rity of the employers are sincerely interest
ed in the well-being of their employees, and
would gladly help them in any way possible. But
the obstacles are enough to discourage all but
tho most sapguine, courageous and persistent.
The benevolent employer is between two fires.
On the one hand he must meet the competition
of the employer who is not benevolent and has
scruples about taking any advantage of the
workingman that will turn extra dime
into his till. 1t is of the unpleasant facts
about competition that one disreputable COM
Detitor can nullify the efforts of ninety nine
high minded ones to maintain their business
an honorable basis. His price makes the market
price, and the ninety nine must meet It. On
the other hand. the benevolent employer must
contend against the prejudices and false notions
created in the minds of bis employees by the
professional mischief maker, whose sole occupa-
ton is persuading ard-working men that he
can do them q good turn by making things hot
for the employer, for which VALUABLE service
they may hand their contributions. The
labors of these mouth workers in the last few
years have produced most lamentable results.
They have created a feeling among work
ingmen that employers as class re-
gard wage-workers merely instruments
for creating wealth. They have spread
the pernicious delusion that employers
class growing enormously rich by the
plain truth of the matter is that the great body
of employers and the great body of employees
have q common enemy in tho constituencies en-
ployer and the consciousness acitator. 1t is
composition that does not stop at justice or hon.
or, and heartless Misrepresentation of facts.
that destroying profits and wages to-
gether Employers and employees who
are working with good Intentions accord
ing to their light should get together, give
each otter their confidence. and make a united
resistance to the influences that are injuring
them. Whether such confidence shall exist in
spite OF all the influences tending to destroy it
depends on the Employers good judgment quite
as much his good intentions. Employees
estimate an employer by his acts, not by his
words and are more impressed by qualities Of
business sense and strong leadership than by
easy going kindness. Extended observation has
confirmed the opinion that those employers
most respected by their workmen who. with
few professions of benevolence, do in fact pas
the best wages their business afford, who
make bargains with employees and frame shop
regulations after frank and free discussion of
all points in which the employees are encouraged
to appear either individually by committee,
as they themselves prefer. and who main tain a
discipline that is at once strict and fair. In the
last two words lies of the secret of har-
monious relations between employer and en-
poyed. The man who is both strict and fair is
the successful man in all the relations of life.